How can I get him to sleep?! - long, sorry

[greenbeanie]

My ds is 3 in August and has always slept well. He dropped his daytime sleep as he wasn't settling and has also learnt to open his bedroom door! Since then he has been difficult to get to bed in the evenings despite being v.tired. After many evenings of continually putting him back we seem to have cracked it. However, he is up every morning between 5-5.30am and although put back to bed will not stay there. We have blackout blinds and even blackout curtains over the top but he is still awake. I wouldn't mind if he had had enough sleep but he is sooo tired . He is falling asleep in the car/on the sofa/all over the place and is continually whining/crying/tired. He is also waking his 6 year old brother, so then both of them are grumpy - please help.

am just starting to have this problem - will watch with interest

We have a DD who s nearly 2 who has just started to TRY and drop her naps, but we will not be beaten. As new DS is expected this week, we are going to get a moment's rest no matter what. So, after many annoyed-mummy-and-daddy-moments today, I found a ploy which worked, (even if was the only time, it was good...)

If you have a DAB radio, tune into Birdsong, it is a pre-recorded loop track of general garden birds, background sounds of the garden and sky, little airplanes, even a horse going "Brrrrpph" through its nose....all of which produced a sleeping child after we told her to listen out for the birds, try and hear the airplane, etc etc

This was after a week of suddenly having to go into her room 10 times to remonstrate, or even pack her in the car and drive her round pointlessly.

I hope it works in future, good luck with yours.

Thanks for that - unfortunately we don't get DAB at present. I think it has all come as such a surprise as our eldest ds slept really well, only dropping his lunchtime sleep at 31/2. We are all just so exhausted. Every time me and dh have a day off together we spend out time alternating having a nap!!